Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Very fucking funny. Just dress like you normally do.”
He looked pointedly down at his boxers.
“Normally when you have company,” I added. “Your fans don’t want to see you sitting around in your underwear scratching your balls.”
“You sure about that?” He smiled. “I’ll bet there’s one or two out there who wouldn’t mind seeing that. Besides, who are these elusive fans you keep talking about? The few people I signed autographs for tonight? No one knows who I am, Jamie.”
That made me chuckle. “Who do you think I am, some kind of amateur? I’ve got this covered. Let me show you something.”
I set up my laptop on his coffee table and sat down on the sectional sofa while Kage went and got dressed again. Then he joined me on the sofa looking very patriotic in a pair of dark blue shorts with white piping, a faded red t-shirt, and no shoes.
I used my finger on the touchscreen to navigate to Kage’s website, but he wasn’t paying my computer any attention. “Where are your glasses?” he asked.
“In my laptop case. But I’m fine without them.”
“You’re squinting at the screen. Put them on.”
I let out a groaning sigh and reached over to retrieve them out of my case. Then I slipped them on and tried to avoid looking directly at Kage.
“Has someone teased you about your glasses, Jamie?”
“People always tease about glasses.”
“Well, I think they’re sexy.”
“You do?” I didn’t look at him.
“Very.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, let’s get back to work.” I directed his attention away from my face and to the computer screen where his website was displayed. Then I spent the next hour showing him the extensive social media presence I’d been building for him.
“Jesus Christ, Jamie. When have you had time to do all of this?” His expression was one of true amazement.
“That’s what happens when you move to a new town and don’t have a social life.” It sounded like a complaint, but I knew my words were tinged with pride. I had worked hard for Kage, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I’d never even seen the guy fight, but I believed in him. Believed he would be a star.
“You see here?” I pointed to an action shot I’d taken of him doing a high kick into the air. It was one of my favorites, and it had gotten hundreds of comments. “People love you, Kage. Every time I post a picture, it gets shared like crazy. And your website is already getting a good amount of hits.”
His eyes widened. “I have a website?”
“Of course. MichaelKage.com. I told you that already. Probably went in one ear and out the other, just like half the shit I tell you. I’ve been working on it, and I’ve got it ranked for a bunch of good keywords.”
“Yeah, like what?”
I navigated to the click-through data. “Let’s see… MMA fighter, best MMA fighter, that’s a good one. Michael Kage, of course. People are actually googling your name now, which is a really good sign.” I cleared my throat. “Um… hot MMA fighter, sexy MMA fighter.”
Kage started laughing. “Really? How the hell did I get in there for that?”
I thought I was going to implode with embarrassment. “Well, I put them in myself. I purposely optimized your site for all of those keywords.”
“So you said I was sexy?”
“Let me explain how this works,” I said in my best business presentation voice, removing my glasses and tucking them neatly back into my computer case. “I thought a lot of people might be looking for a sexy MMA fighter, so I optimized for the term. It just has to do with knowing what your audience is looking for, and knowing that when people get to your site with those search terms, they won’t be disappointed in what they find.”
Kage’s chest clearly puffed up at that. “Well, let’s give them some sexy pictures, then. I saw where one woman said she liked my thick arms. Let’s get some shots that show them off.”
“There are many people saying they like every single part of you, Kage. But yeah, we can show off your arms. Stay there on the sofa and kind of prop your arm on the back. Yeah, like that.” I centered him in my camera frame and took a picture. “Now bend your elbow and lean your head on your hand. Oh, yeah. That shows off the swell of the bicep right there. Very nice.” Kage smiled at the compliment, and I got a few shots of him showing the boyish dimples I had come to know and love.
After I’d gotten a bunch of seated shots, I suggested he remove his shirt.
“I thought you wanted me in clothes. Make up your mind, fickle boy.” He was clearly amused as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and cast it aside.